Whether you are using a Chromebook, designed specifically to run Google Chrome, or something different, such as an Apple Mac, a Windows or a Linux PC, chances are you’re using Google Chrome as your default web browser – it is, after all, one of the world’s most popular applications.
If you wish to use your keyboard to quickly and easily manually adjust the zoom level of any given tab you’re working in, then all you need to do is to follow this simple tutorial.
Table of Contents
How to zoom in and out in Google Chrome using keyboard shortcuts
Windows, Linux, Chrome OS computers
- Open Google Chrome, and navigate to the page you wish to alter the zoom of
- To zoom in (making everything bigger), hold down CTRL on your keyboard, and then press the (+) plus sign. With each press, you will increase the page zoom by increments of 10%, 15%, 25%, 50%, or 100%, up to a maximum of 500% overall page zoom.
- To zoom out (making everything smaller), hold down CTRL on your keyboard, and then press the (-) minus sign. With each press, you will decrease the page zoom by increments of 17%, 10%, 8%, or 5%, down to a minimum of 25% overall page zoom.
- To reset the page zoom in Google Chrome, hold down CTRL on your keyboard, and press (0) zero.
Apple Mac computers
- Open Google Chrome, and navigate to the page you wish to alter the zoom of
- To zoom in (making everything bigger), hold down CMD (⌘) on your keyboard, and then press the (+) plus sign. With each press, you will increase the page zoom by increments of 10%, 15%, 25%, 50%, or 100%, up to a maximum of 500% overall page zoom.
- To zoom out (making everything smaller), hold down CMD (⌘) on your keyboard, and then press the (-) minus sign. With each press, you will decrease the page zoom by increments of 17%, 10%, 8%, or 5%, down to a minimum of 25% overall page zoom.
- To reset the page zoom in Google Chrome, hold down CMD (⌘) on your keyboard, and press (0) zero.
Note: The default page zoom in Google Chrome is 100%.
How to enable and disable full-screen mode in Google Chrome
Windows and Linux computers
- Open Google Chrome, and navigate to the page you wish to view full-screen
- To enable full-screen mode, hold down FN (‘function’) on your keyboard, and press F11
- To disable full-screen mode, repeat step two (press FN + F11 together)
Chrome OS computers
- Open Google Chrome, and navigate to the page you wish to view full-screen
- To enable full-screen mode press the full-screen key (also shown as F4) at the top of your keyboard
- To disable full-screen mode repeat step twp (press F4/full-screen key)
Apple Mac computers
- Open Google Chrome, and navigate to the page you wish to view full-screen
- To enable full-screen mode, hold down CMD (⌘) and CTRL at the same time, then press ‘F’
- To disable full-screen mode, repeat step two (press CMD (⌘), CTRL, and ‘F’)
Note: Altering the zoom of a page in Google Chrome (or entering into full-screen mode) only affects your current page/tab. It does not affect any other pages/tabs you have open, and is not a permanent change. To affect all pages at once and/or to make the page zoom change permanent, see the FAQs below.
And there you have it. With just a few simple keyboard commands, you can alter the page zoom of any tab/page in Google Chrome, regardless of what OS your computer works on.
Frequently asked questions
What is Google Chrome?
Google Chrome is one of the world’s leading web browsers. Its functionality, sleek design, and compatibility with just about any desktop, tablet, or mobile device all serve to boost its popularity. As standard with most web browsers, it is designed to be as accessible as possible, meaning that its default zoom setting – AKA 100% zoom – is set so as to enable an easy and fluid reader-interaction with the interface.
If I alter the zoom level on Google Chrome, is the change permanent?
No. The change in zoom in Google Chrome actually only affects the current tab in which you’re working. Altering the zoom will not affect other tabs you have open, and once you close the tab you’ve zoomed in or out on, if you were to open it again you’d find the zoom level had reverted to 100%. If you wish to permanently and universally alter the zoom level in Google Chrome, then you would have to navigate like so: menu > settings > appearance > page zoom > select your preferred zoom level from the drop-down menu. This will apply your chosen page zoom level across all of Google Chrome. To change it back to default, repeat these steps and select 100% from the drop-down menu.
Can I use my mouse to zoom, instead of my keyboard?
Yes, absolutely you can. Google Chrome actually has a built-in zoom functionality. When in Google Chrome, navigate to the menu via the three vertical grey dots in the upper-right corner. In the drop-down menu, you will find the zoom tool. You can use your mouse to click either (+) or (-) to zoom in or out, respectively. Remember that 100% is default zoom, if you wish to revert to the default settings. Note also that part of this zoom tool is a button shaped like a broken square. Clicking this will put you into full-screen, just like we discussed above. To exit full-screen, press F11 on your keyboard (or FN + F11, if that doesn’t immediately work).
